Governors spend N512bn on travels, offices

By Blessing Fali

Thirty-three state governments spent at least N512.10 billion on Government Houses, Governors’ Offices, executive administration, travel and transport in the first six months of 2026, according to an analysis of state budget implementation reports.

The expenditure was about 4,713 times higher than the combined six-month salaries of Nigeria’s 36 governors. A governor’s official monthly salary is N503,000, amounting to N3.018 million over six months, while the combined six-month salary of all 36 governors is about N108.65 million.

The analysis showed that N420.01 billion was spent under Government House, Governor’s Office and related executive administration expenditure, while N92.09 billion went to travel and transport, bringing the total to N512.10 billion.

The figures do not represent the personal income of governors. They cover a wide range of official expenses, including administrative operations, staff, protocol, maintenance, official residences, utilities, security-related activities, state functions, transportation and official trips.

Kogi recorded the highest identifiable Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure at N65.34 billion, followed by Ogun with N45.26 billion and Lagos with N45.04 billion. Kano recorded N25.87 billion, while Ekiti and Cross River recorded N25.22 billion and N23.92 billion respectively.

On travel and transport, Plateau recorded the highest identifiable spending at N10.11 billion, followed by Lagos with N8.23 billion and Taraba with N5.16 billion.

Compared with the first half of 2025, the available figures showed a decline in total spending from N557.80 billion to N512.10 billion, representing an 8.19 per cent reduction. However, travel and transport expenditure remained relatively stable, falling marginally from N92.73 billion to N92.09 billion.

The figures have renewed concerns over the cost of running state executive offices, particularly amid calls for governments to channel more public resources towards infrastructure, social services and other areas that directly benefit citizens.

The analysis was based on available first and second quarter 2026 Budget Implementation Reports. Comparable data were unavailable for Edo, Osun and Rivers states.